|
The changes in Dublin 15 over the past 30 years have been remarkable with the population growing from around 20,000 to almost 100,000. These changes are perfectly illustrated in a new calendar published by Blanchardstown Area Partnership (BAP) entitled “Dublin 15 – then and now”.
The calendar features a range of photos from up to a century ago and these are matched with photos of the same location today. A number of these images have previously appeared in Community Voice and always proved popular so undoubtedly their availability in this high quality calendar will make them a “must have” gift in many local homes this Christmas.
The calendar was launched together with a DVD outlining the history and success of the partnership and a photographic exhibition at a function in the new Crowne Plaza Hotel by Minister of State John Curran TD.
Speaking at the launch, Linda Curran, Manager of BAP said “the partnership has been in existence now since 1995 and since then this area has changed beyond all recognition. The speed of this change has also impacted on the people who live in the area. Even in my own four years in this job, I have seen dramatic changes. It is very exciting but it is also very challenging.”
According to Linda “we have to find out what the new areas of Dublin 15 need and we must try to meet those needs - which is going to be even more difficult in the current economic climate.”
She also thanked Sean Byrne one of the area’s oldest residents. “Sean has lived on Main Street [Blanchardstown] all his life and he proved to be a great store of knowledge for us when we were preparing this calendar.”
David Hughes, a lifelong resident of Porterstown, has been involved with the partnership since its inception and he outlined the changes in the area in that time. ”There was no town centre then and very limited facilities. The Partnership was born out of the economic bad times of the 80’s and early 90s. Its aim was to bring the state closer to the people for the delivery of services.
“I have seen a huge change in the population of the area,” he said. When I was young I could stand at Clonsilla crossroads and every car that passed me by would wave at me. I could stand there all day now and nobody would know me.”
Stressing the importance of the continuation of the work of BAP, he said “the Partnership is not about the wants of the community but rather it is about the needs and in particular the needs of those who live on the margins of the community. We must ensure that what has been built up in our community is not now dismantled because of the bad times.”
However in his address, Minster of State at the Department of Gaeltacht, Community & Rural Affairs, John Curran did not give much hope for David Hughes’ aspirations. He referred to the recent expansion of the Partnership’s area of operation – it now covers all of the Dublin 15 area stretching from Laraghcon out to the Ward – which he said “will provide you with a significant challenge. In the current economic climate it is not possible to increase funding proportionately to this expansion so we will have to call on you to be creative in your programming.”
Pictured right, at the launch, are Minister John Curran, Sean Byrne, Terry McCabe, Assistantt Manager of the Partnership & Linda Curran, Manager of the Partnership.
The Minister emphasised that “it will be important to deliver efficiently on frontline services. Resources must be directed in a targeted and effective manner. As with all government programmes there will be less funding next year and it will require innovative thinking and creative responses from all involved.”
Referring to the business in hand, he said he was “very impressed with the new DVD which captures the history of Blanchardstown Area partnership very successfully in such a short space of time. I hope that this exhibition will be put on public display. For people who have come to live here in recent years it gives them a great sense of history in their new home.”
Copies of the new calendar are available from the Blanchardstown Area Partnership offices at Dillon House in Coolmine Business Park (tel. 01 8209 550). Alternatively, click here to view / download a PDF version.
(This article first appeared in Community Voice.)
| 
